Bridge



(No Mom.)-

W. B. WISE. 1

BRIDGE. l No. 447,222. Patented Feb. 24, v1891.

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UNITEIj STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIIILIAM B WISE, OFl ELBA, ALABAMA.

B Rl D G SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,222, dated February 24, 1891.-

Application filed September 6, 1890. Serial No. 364,158. (No model.) I

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. WIsE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Elba, in the county of Coffee and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following lto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andV to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication. A

This invention relates to improvements in bridges. A

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of .iioors and sides for bridges or other similar structures; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, Figure l is a vertical section of a bridge, showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken through the line oc' a; of Fig. l.

A refers to the cross-beams or sills of a bridge, upon which are placed and secured a series of sleepers B B. The upper edges of the sills are curved, as shown, so that the upper edges of the sleepers will describe the arc of a circle. The flooringvis made up of three thicknesses of boards, which are laid so as to break joints and extend across the sleepers B or parallel with the sillsA. The first set of floor-boards a are secured directly to the sleepers, andthe next set a are secured above the same to break joints therewith, and the upper ones are placed to break joints with those below. It is obvious that by this construction, the central part of the bridge being the highest, the water will readily flow off the sides thereof, so as to not only keep thel bridge dry, but also keep it clean, and by bending the floor-boards in the arc of a circle, as shown, greater stiffness will be given to the structure. The side pieces of the bridge rest upon blocks C, through which pass rods D, said rods passing through the sills A, the oor, the sills E of the sides, and the braces F, said rods being provided at their upper ends with Washers and nuts, which rest upon the covering-plates g and serve to reta-in them in position. The sides of the bridge may be constructed or formed with the usual truss, and are covered by sheathing-boards I-I II, which not only serve to protect the main beams of the truss, but also materially stiften the structure. A bridge thus constructed is cheap, and the leading parts being thoroughly protected from moisture will last a long time, and repairs can be cheaply made. Vhen the floor is partly Worn, the upper set of boards can be removed and new ones readily placed in position. p

I-Iavin g thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l1. A bridge or similar structure consisting of a series of transverse sills, the upper edges thereof j being curved, longitudinal sleepers secured upon the upper portion of said sills, a flooring secured to the sleepers; said floorf ing being made up of two or more sets of boards laid at right angles to the sleepers,

.side or guard rails supported upon blocks C,

and bolts extending through the guard or sidev rails and secured thereto and to the sills, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

A 2. The combination, in a bridge, of the transverse sills A, having raised central por,- tions, longitudinal sleepers secured thereto, a curved ooring made up of three sets of floor# boards, arranged substantially as shown, and blocks C, upon which the sills of the side trusses rest, said trusses being sheathed and provided with covering-plates, substantially as set forth. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIAM B. WISE. Witnesses:

D. C. COLLINS, JOHN FOUETAIN. 

